Baby stroller



June4, 146. L. H. ECKHARDT 2,401,342

BABY STROLLER Filed Jun e 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 6 29 3/ 4. HECAHARDT June 4, 1946. ECKHARDT 2,401,342

BABY STROLLER Filed June 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet .1. ,q. ECKl-IARD T June 4, 1946. H. ECKHARDT 2,401,342

BABY STROLLER Filed June 21, 1944 4'SheetS -Sheet a 4. b. fC/f/IARDT June 4, 1946. H. ECKHARD'T I BABY STROLLER File d June 21, 1944- 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 L MECKHARDT Patented June 4, l946 o en 'BABY STROLLER Louis H. Eckhardt, St. Petersburg, Fla. Application June 21, 1944, Serial No. 541,379

4 Claims. (01. 28041) This invention relates to a combination baby stroller and high chair whichmay be quickly folded with one hand into'a compact package which may be carried like a hand bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination stroller and chair which folds into a substantially square package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination stroller and chair which may be folded outward and downward instead of in common scissor manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined go-cart and chair which may be quickly folded with one hand, and which automatically locks itself in such folded position, the lock being manually thrown open.

A further object of the invention is to provide a go-cart which may be folded to form a stool for an adult.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a foldable go-cart of standard formation when opened up for use, in order that it may be equipped with the conventional back drop and adjustable foot rest for a sleeping child.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully appear, I have invented the device shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1' is a side elevational view of my device- Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line l'! of Figure 5. I

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 1. v

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a part of the operating mechanism.

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of a hinge and lock mechanism.

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the device shown folded.

Figure 12 is a rear elevation of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a top plan View of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken on the line I l-l 4 of Figure 12, and

Figure 15 is a sectional View taken on the line 15-15 of Figure 11.

The herein described invention was designed fora general utility go-cartor stroller soconstructed that it may be set up or folded with one hand by a person holding a child, and therefore not having the use of the other hand, and which when folded, automatically locks itself into a compact, relatively small package, which requires little room in crowded and close quarters such as stores, busses, cars etc. and for storage purposes. Also when folded it may readily be carried as a hand bag and which also provides a stool upon which an adult may sit.

In the accompanying drawings I indicates my improved stroller or go-cart which comprises a seat 2, a back 3, a handle 4, legs 5, 6, 1 and 8, a foot rest 9, and wheel H], H, l2, and I3, and side arms I4 and I5. I

The seat 2 is supported upon side frame members l6 and I! to which the front legs Sand 1 are rigidlyfixed and connected by brace members. l8 and I9. A cross brace 20 also connects the said side frame members.

The back of the chair or seat consists of a pair of side uprights 2| connected by a cross bar 22 spaced somewhat above the lower terminals 23 and 24 of said uprights; These terminals are connected by a cross pivot bar 25, which have swingingly mounted thereon a pair of spaced apart release bars 26 and 21, the purpose of which will presently be explained. s i

The ends of the bar 25 are fixedly carried in the rear ends 28 of the frame members l6 and H,

and between which ends and said terminals 23 and 24 swing metal straps 2'9 and 30, as best seenin Figure 4, which are fixed to the upper'ends 3| and 32 of the rear legs 6 and 8, thus providing pivotal movement of said legs.

Adjacent the lower ends of the rear legs 6 and 8, an axle member 33 is carried and onv the outer ends of which the rear Wheels l2 and" I3 are mounted.

A. look release bar 34 is slidably supported in the longitudinal slots 35 and 36 of the frame members I6 and l! and has its end 31 bent at right angles to form a hand crank for manipu lating this bar, upon which is mounted a pair of spaced apart leaves or 'flange members 38 and 39 against which the fingers 40 and 4|, fixed to the free ends of the members 26 and 21 normally seat. The extreme ends of said last members bearing against the bar 34 to hold the same against slidable movement and thus hold the go-V cart in locked position.

Pivotally mounted on the outer ends of member 34; are the lower ends of brace link 44 and the links 56-and 51 have their outcr ends pivotedto the legs I and 8 respectively. Chair arms 58 and 59 are carried by the brace members 44 and 45.

A handle member 60 has its side bars 6| and 62 pivotally mounted upon straps63 and 64, re-' spectively, projecting outwardly from the upper ends of elements 2 i.

Pivotally attached to members 6| and 62 are latches 65 and 66 having arcuate terminals adapted to slide over the catch elements 61 and 68 projecting from the upper edge of the back wall 69, automatically locking the member 60 in operative position upon'being raised. A cord or cable H1 is passed through eyes 42' and has its lower ends secured to the elements 65 and 66 in order that both latches may be simultaneously raised by drawingupon the central portion of member '10.

Mounted upon the free ends of bars 26 and 21 are leaf springs Hand 12, (see Figures 5, 6 and 9) which, when'the go-ca'rt is in operative position, bear against the cross brace 20 to retain the bars 26 and 21 in engagement with the leaves 38 and 39, respectively, to maintain the go-cart in a set-up position. However, when the said rod 34 is rotated by its crank handle 31 the leaves 38 and 39 thereon will be disengaged from said bars 26 and 21 allowing the rod 34 and brace members 44 and 45 to slide rearwardly with the rod 34 moving in the slots 35 and 36, of said side frame elements I6. and 1], respectively. This action causes said members 44 land 45 to push down upon thelinks 48 and .49 depressing the inner ends of the links 54. and 55, and 56' and 51, thus drawing in the inclined rear legs 6 and 8 toward the fixed legs and 1.. Before this action has taken place, the handle member 60, together with the cable 19,.has been gripped by the user which action raises-the latche 65 and I 66 which permits the handle member 4 to swing down against the rear of 1 the: backf69, when the handlememberwill .be automatically caught and held in fastened position'by a spring catch 'l4,carriedbymember22.' 1 7 l The axle member 33,'carried,by.the rear legs, is of sufiiciently greater'length than the front axle 15 as to permit therearz'wheels l2 "and I3 to overlap the frontwheels l0.and..l i when the 4 adult because of the compact, sturdy arrangement of the device when folded. Attached to the rung 85 of the arm 58, which rung, when the device is folded, assumes a horizontal position, is one end of a strap 86, having a snap 81 for engagement with a link 88 carried by the opposite rung 89. This strap is adapted to hold a child in the cart and also forms a handle for carrying the device when folded.

When the device is in its folded position, as shown in Figure 11 of the drawings it is only necessary to turn crank 31 to the right for releasing leaves 38 and 39 whereupon the locking bar 26 and 21 can be disengaged from rod 34 for releasing the mechanism and permitting the raisingof the back of the device which action permits the said-lock bars to again function and lock'the parts in rigid operation as a go-cart. The handle member, when raised automatically locks to that position.

1. Ast'roller having a seat, front leg means depending therefrom, wheels for the front leg means, rear leg means pivoted to the seat and normally extending downwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto, wheels carried by the rear leg means, a back rising from the seat, a pivotal mounting of the rear leg means enabling .the same to be moved forwardly past the vertical, and the back being pivoted to the seat to be folded downwardly so that its normally upper edge will engage the ground.

2. A stroller having a seat, front leg means depending therefrom, wheels for the front leg means, rear leg means pivoted to the seat and normally extendingdownwardly and rearwardly with respect thereto, wheels carried b the rear leg means, a back rising from the seat, a pivotal mounting of the rear leg means enabling the same to be moved forwardly past the vertical, and the back being pivoted to the seat to be folded downwardl so that its normally upper edge will engage the ground, brace links operatively connected to the back and to the seat, brace links pivotallyconnected to the forward legs, brace links pivotally connected to the rear legs, and links pivotally connected to the first mentioned brace links and pivotally connected to the second and I third brace links, so that the back and legs will be supported and will also be foldable in unison.

3. A stroller having a seat, front leg means depending therefrom, wheels for the front leg means, rear leg meanspivoted to the seat and normally extending downwardly and rearwardly device is in folded position, 'as Iseendn Figures l0, l2 and 14.

By raw n i the ar l gs to verticalposition, the back.3 is allowed to swing down flat against said rear legs, whereupon. the. rod. 34- is driven forward again-by th members 46 and 49, and upon reaching its outermost position the bars 26 and2'l, actuated by springs. H and 12, will again engage-the leaves38 and 39 of .rod34 andprevent its rear movement untilsaid leaves are again released, thus securely locking the device in closed position. The foot rest 9 is adjustably mounted upon the front apron 82,, attached to the front,

legs 5 and I by fastenings 83 and .84.- When the go-cart has beenbrought to its folded and locked positiomit forms a stool, as seen in Figures 11- to 15, which will readily bear the weight of any with respect thereto, wheels carried by the rear leg means, a back rising from the seat, apivotal mounting of the rear leg means enabling the same to be moved forwardly past the vertical, and the back being-pivoted to the seat to be folded downwardly so that its normally upper edge will engage the ground, brace links operativel connected to the back and to the seat, brace links pivotally connected to the forward legs, brace links pivotally connected tothe rear legs, and

links pivotally connected to thefirst mentioned brace links and pivotally connected to the. second and thirdbrace links, so that-the back and legs will be supported and will also be foldable in. unison, and a normally extendedhandle on the back, said handle being foldably mountedon the back.

4. A stroller having a seat, front .leg means depending therefrom, wheels for thefront leg 7 means, rear leg means pivoted tothe'seat and normally extending downwardly and rearwardly links pivotally connected to the rear legs, and links pivotally connected to the first mentioned brace links and pivotally connected to the second and third brace links, so that the back and legs will be supported and will also be foldable in unison, and attaching and release bar mechanism beneath the seat and associated with the first mentioned brace links.

LOUIS H. ECKHARDT. 

